Carol Davey Young

When Carol Young celebrated her 80th birthday, close women friends gathered summing up what Carol meant to them: “amazing sense of humour”, “kind, thoughtful, welcoming”, “gracious hostess”, “unconditionally loving”. Carol was also a “brilliant strategist” who used all these gifts to make a difference in her world.

Carol Davey Young was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, on February 18, 1942, middle child of Arthur Dreweatt (Drew) Davey and Wilma Carol (Johnson) Davey.

When Carol was two, the family moved to Ottawa where she grew up and later began her career, first working for an Ottawa Liberal MP. Here she caught the “political bug”. Becoming an increasingly important behind-the-scenes player in the Liberal Party of Canada, Carol was the first female special assistant to a Cabinet Minister (John Munro) and served as the staff person responsible for the National Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

In 1970, she met John Young, a bright young Nova Scotia lawyer and party activist who was executive assistant to Cabinet Minister Alan MacEachen. John declared himself dazzled by Carol’s physical beauty, self-assuredness, and talent. Despite very different personalities, they clicked and became a powerful, devoted team for life.

Two years later, they married and immediately decamped to London for what Carol remembered as a “fabulous” political junkies’ year in Margaret Thatcher’s Britain.

Returning to Canada, they settled in Nova Scotia where John began his career as a lawyer and Carol became a passionate advocate and a dedicated volunteer for a wide variety of charitable, community and non-profit organizations. “How can I help?” became her mantra.

Carol was instrumental in the creation of the IWK Children’s Hospital Telethon and later served as Chair of the IWK Foundation. She was on the organizing committees of Ronald McDonald House and the Children’s Discovery Centre.

Committed to changing the way people think about mental illness, Carol served as Chair of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia and was a member of the Campaign Cabinet for “Opening Minds,” the first ever capital campaign for mental health in the province. She was a member of the working group established by Health and Welfare Canada to formulate guidelines for “Child and Youth Long Term Services” for Canadian hospitals.

She also served on boards as diverse as Dalhousie University, Neptune Theatre, Pier 21 Society and the Life Sciences Development Association.

In recognition of her service to the community, Carol was chosen “Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser” by the Canadian Society of Fundraising Executives, received the YWCA Women of Recognition Award and the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada.

In 2005 Carol was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for her “tireless devotion to voluntary service, applying her boundless energy and commitment to benefit countless community organizations in Nova Scotia… and raised her community's awareness in the area of mental illness through her inspiring leadership and personal generosity.” Three years later, Saint Mary’s University awarded her an honorary doctorate degree for her “service and leadership to the community.”

“Don’t tell me it can’t be done,” was a lesson Carol had learned from her mother and applied throughout her life, employing, among other approaches, her “divide the suits” strategy to encourage other women to take their rightful place in boardrooms.

All of her many gifts — empathy, compassion, advocacy, humour, opening her heart and home — came together in the fall of 1977 when she was asked to do some “special visiting” at the Izaak Walton Killam Hospital for Children in Halifax. The infant in need of cuddling was a tiny, love-starved boy, a blind, possibly deaf and developmentally delayed child suffering from a rare congenital disease. His doctors didn’t expect him to survive.

Within a month, however, his doctor would make a simple, marveling notation on the boy’s medical chart: “Carol Young.”

A year later, Carol and John adopted Michael Philip Young, changing his life and their own, for the better and forever. Carol expanded Michael’s universe, planting herbs and flowers to introduce him to new sounds and smells, and organizing “amazing” Dalhousie Street parties where neighbourhood children got an opportunity to appreciate Michael and all he had to offer.

Although Michael died far too soon at the age of 12, no child could have been better loved.

“Some people still say to me, ‘Oh, Michael was so lucky to have found you,’” Carol would tell friends. “But I always say, “No it’s not like that. We found each other.”

Unconditional love.

Carol Young is survived by her siblings, older brother Jim, younger sister Joy (Lawrence Stibbards), and brother-in-law Bob Young (Lynn), along with nephews and nieces Sarah, Matthew, Kathryn, Adam, Megan, Phillip, Graham, Audra and Buddy. She was predeceased by her son Michael, and her husband John.

Deep gratitude is extended to Lyndsay Black who supported, loved and cared for Carol and John in so many ways over the last few years. Special thanks for the compassionate and tender care provided by Rebecca Mostoles, Imelda Goya and their team. Your loving kindness help Carol through some challenging times. And finally, to the dedicated staff at Parkland at the Gardens, who provided conscientious care peppered with laughter and dancing.

A Celebration of Carol’s Life will be held on Tuesday, April 4 at 2 pm at St. Andrew’s United Church, Coburg and Robie, Halifax.

Donations in Carol’s memory may be made to the IWK Health Centre Foundation in memory of Michael Philip Young, to Brigadoon Children’s Camp Society, or to the charity of your choice. To leave an online condolence please visit www.jasnowfuneralhome.com